Mayor Wharton challenges kids to head off guns, gangs

Camp counselor Chelsey Allen helps Kyle Campbell, 5, and McKenzie Ruffin, 6, read the mayor's pledge to reject violence on Wednesday morning during a visit by the mayor to the Bert Ferguson Community Center in Cordova to kick off the Mayor's Challenge.

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton talks with day camp kids at the Ferguson Community Center on Wednesday, urging them to turn away from gun violence and gang activity.

If only stopping youth gun violence could be as easy as a concise fire safety slogan like "Stop, drop and roll."

"There will be more kids hurt by violence this year than will be hurt by fires," Memphis Mayor A C Wharton told 175 summer campers Wednesday at the Bert Ferguson Community Center in Cordova. "Think about that."

So far this year, Memphis police have logged 694 cases where children have been victims of violence. In addition, more than 500 children have been arrested and charged with violent acts.

Through the Mayor's Summer Challenge to End Youth Gun Violence, Wharton is targeting more than 2,000 youngsters from ages 5 to 15 with programs he hopes will help them avoid being a victim or a participant in gun violence. By starting with younger children, Wharton said, "We're trying to change the conversation."

Baptist Memorial Health Care gave the city $15,000 to help fund the challenge and work with youngsters in conflict resolution. In addition, the city is using a three-year $4.8 million grant from New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's private foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies. It will tackle two problems: youth gun violence, and economic vitality and development in core city neighborhoods.

When he lived in his old neighborhood, Christian Fouche, 11, said a boy talked to him about gang life.

"He said it's bad. It's dangerous. The people in it will treat you mean. They won't back you up," he said.

During the next several months, Joe Hunter with GANG Inc. in North Frayser and Dr. Clara Denise West with KoKo and Friends Foundation in Cordova will be working with children to keep them from gangs and what to do when a friend or a neighbor has a gun.

Within an hour after city officials left the community center, West handed out glossy colored newsletters about gun violence and gangs to 9- and 10-year-olds in the center's gym.

"Have you seen anyone who has been shot," West asked. Among the 50 boys and girls, eight to 10 hands were raised.

"Was it cool?" she asked. "Did it hurt?"

"When you are with other kids, you don't have a reason to ever touch a gun," she stressed. "There is nothing wrong with running."

Hunter, who operates GANG Inc., said he will be working on gang intervention and prevention, such as what to do if a family member is already part of a gang and how to keep from joining one.

Hunter, who is a minister, said as a youngster in Detroit, he was in a gang. "I have five bullets still in my body," he said.

He stretched his arm out to show a bump that he said is an AK-47 bullet. "I use the street laws to combat gang activity," he said.

Often, even gang members don't want their younger siblings to join.

"That's the way you flip the script on them," he said. "You build a barricade around their children."